¹My introduction and several articles in this volume emerge from the research programme on the Civil Society and Social Movements at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), Geneva. I would like to thank all contributors who completed their piece within the tight deadline. My sincere thanks go especially to my following UNRISD colleagues: Anita Tombez (for translation of article by Fatou Sarr and general bibliographical control), Katrien de Moor (for translation of the article by Fernand Vincent), Santiago Daroca Oller (for translation of the article by Liliana Diaz), Edouard Morena (for translation of the article by Murat Yilmaz).

Abstract

Highlighting the experiences of the World Social Forum (WSF), national nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in three developing countries and donor policies on funding of civil society organizations, Kléber Ghimire introduces the issue of financial autonomy among NGOs and social movements today. He argues that although social movements like the WSF vary in their appreciation of the current economic system and transformations required, when it comes to raising funds they are not very different from an NGO in that they share severe financial insecurity and the risk of political manipulation by donor institutions and authorities. The financial fragility of both groups emanates primarily from their approaches and working methods, which require important external resources, and by the fact that there is almost a total absence of internal assessment on their own means.